Braun up from Worcester, Mitchell not seriously hurt — and Thornton says he wanted B’s to win cup

Coming: Justin Braun from Worcester. Look for him to be in the lineup tonight and I’m thinking it’ll be Jason Demers as a scratch.

Going: Tommy Wingels to Worcester.

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Injury update: Torrey Mitchell is dealing with some upper body soreness, but the problem is short-term. He won’t play tonight, but could be in the lineup Tuesday in Nashville.

Back to Braun and listen to what Todd McLellan had to say about the situation this morning.

“We really liked Justin Braun’s training camp,” the coach said. “He was sent down basically due to numbers, not his performance. There’s a couple D-men who have struggled, in our opinion, the first few games and we’ll make some changes to give him the opportunity to win a job.”

McLellan didn’t name names. But because Braun fulfills a similar role as Demers, my guess is that’s the D-man he replaces. And I wouldn’t be shocked if Jim Vandermeer is in for Colin White, who also fits McLellan’s description at times. Besides Braun and Vandermeer were paired throughout the exhibition season, so there is familiarity.

Now back to Mitchell and here’s what he has to say about the play that saw him elbowed in the head by Devils forward Nick Palmieri, then crash awkwardly into the boards, shoulder-first.

“I went into the boards weird,” said Mitchell, who wasn’t wearing a sling or brace or even a Band-Aid. “I didn’t see him coming and I was looking down on the puck, and when he hit me I went onto the boards.”

“It’s nothing serious,” he added.

But, yes, he was in pain at the time and dealing with a little anxiety as to the extent of the damage.

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“I was relieved” when it wasn’t worse, he said. “I didn’t know if I was going to come back in the game or not. I felt like I could.”

Now there will be two days off before the Sharks play Tuesday night in Nashville. Enough time for Mitchell to heal?

“Exactly,” he said.

*****The Boston media was waiting for Joe Thornton per usual, but it turned out the last thing they asked him about was his 1,000th game.

No, they were interested in hearing what he had to say about the Bruins winning the Stanley Cup.

“I was actually cheering for them in the final,” Thornton volunteered. “After losing to Chicago and then Chicago hosting it up, it would have been tough seeing Vancouver host it. I’ve still got a lot of friends over there (the Bruins) so I was happy for them.

“No, not at all,” Thornton said. “They hadn’t won a cup here in so long so it was overdue.”

But didn’t he at least think, “what if”?

No, it’s so long ago,” he said. “You’re so consumed with what you’ve got to do in San Jose, there’s no ‘what ifs.’ ”

(The record will show that when I asked Thornton about the Bruins success at the start of training camp, he replied that once his team — the Sharks — are eliminated, he doesn’t much care who won the cup. Maybe I didn’t phrase the question properly.)

*****Antti Niemi gets the start in goal tonight despite going through 65 minutes of hockey and three shootout rounds in that 4-3 victory over New Jersey.

McLellan, by the way, wasn’t going to give anyone a pass because of the back-to-backs.

“Teams coming in, especially when you’ve played overtime and traveled, tend to be a little tired,” he said. “But you know what? That’s an excuse we’re not going to attach ourselves to. We haven’t played a lot of hockey. We have a lot of juice left in the tank for this game tonight. I expect us to come out and compete hard for all 60 or 65 minutes.”

*****Douglas Murray didn’t look like a guy who took a hard punch to the face Friday night from Devils enforcer Eric Boulton. No bruising, not even a scratch.

“You’ve got to take a punch sometime,” he semi-joked. “A wake-up call.”

When I mentioned it looked as if he could’ve been hurt when he quickly hit the ice, Murray had ready retort.

“I got up pretty quickly, didn’t I?”

David Pollak

David Pollak has been following the NHL forever and at the Mercury News as an editor or reporter since 1987. For almost a decade he wrote about the Sharks as the paper's Fan in the Stands before joining the sports department in 2001. He became the Sharks beat writer before the 2007-08 season and began this blog at that time. You can also follow him on Twitter at @PollakOnSharks.

Yes, and I think DP’s hunch is right that Colin White has been the other culprit. Not sure what the heck White was doing on the Clarkson goal but he sure exposed Niemi to the point blank shot and score. Out with Demers and White and in with Vandy and Braun.

And like I mentioned the other day………off to Worchester for Wingels! So much for a good training camp Tommy. It goes to show you that once the lights are on in an NHL season, everything prior doesn’t mean squat.

BASS

Glad to see Braun up tonight, but we would have had a bigger hill to climb last night had Demers not swatted that puck out of mid air from the open net.

Peninsula Shark

I would be disappointed if any Sharks’ player was rooting for the Vancouver Five-Hole Diving Team in the SC finals.

puckace

Previous thread: I’d like to see Murray wack-a-mole Kronwall. But Franzen would be an acceptable substitute.

Sharks were better yesterday but are still lacking in the full effort department. Should learn a lot about effort in today’s game.

Glad to see Wingels sent down. He needs to get some more seasoning in the AHL. Braun up so Demers can sit is also welcome. I’m a fan of Demers but he needs to get back to where he was last year during the playoffs. Hopefully sitting a game or two will help him hit the reset button and get out of the funk he’s in.

Sb

#9 Not Again: Clarkson dodged at the blueline to stay onside. It took White by surprise and he tripped over himself trying to avoid a roughing or interference penalty.

And then it was just chase chase chase.

Sb

Murray took off his cap before the fight, Boulton didn’t. Pretty weak sauce by a supposed tough guy.

Not Again

Sb – Call it what you will but whatever White did was unexceptable. Sharks were very very lucky to get out of that game with points after White left Clarkson alone in front of Niemi awaiting a centering feed. That play would have been real tough for White to live down on his return to Jersey so the hockey gods were on his side.

ZEKE

I believe its hoisting the Cup, DP. Or maybe its Jumbo’s Canadian accent. Hosting the Cup is when you invite it over for dinner.

JP

I haven’t been able to watch the majority of the games because of a crummy work schedule but from I have heard and read, it seems like Colin White is pretty much done, as far as playing at a high level goes.

justwatching

What will the lines be tonight in Boston ?

Shark Fin

No one has mentioned the absolute run Clarkson took at Boyle that was the trigger for Dougie to drop the gloves- that run was totally unnecessary and I’m glad Murray stuck up for Boyle (who until the 3rd was dreadful).

Glad if they sit Demers. As I’ve posted a few times he’s good to for one mistake leading to a grade A scoring chance a game. Maybe sitting a few games or having him see WOR again will get him to settle down.

Haven’t noticed White as much other than he hasn’t lived up to the some of the hype about how we got another backline beast who can dish out the hits. Handzus has been more than billed IMO, Havlat got my attention last night. C.White so far…meh, ok.

Not sure I like what’s going on with Demers. Last year, I thought he might have been our most improved player. Maybe it was a chemistry thing, but this year he looks like he regressed a good bit. Hope he finds his game, and soon.

NickG

Zeke: you’re right. It is hoist. I think DP just brain farted twice.

g-bum-man

Snow Shovel–The Mule is very good at the cross check indeed. Pronger for the Flyers is super obvious about it, but somehow he always gets a pass form the officials, unless he cross checks a guys head. The he gets called–occasionally. It irritates the hell out of me watcing him do that. Game after game. No whistle. He plays so dirty that his mama can’t get his jersey/sweater clean after the game.

Hondr–you’re ok…for a wings fan. When you guys beat us in the playoffs I will capitalize the “wings” again. Until then, you are lower case! HA! Should be a great game next Friday. I always get up for a Sharks vs. wings game.

B

Demers is my boy but man he’s looked awful so far. By far the weakest link on the team, I think his benching is about 3 games overdue really.

David Pollak

ZEKE, NickG,

Here’s the deal: Thornton said HOST – twice. I listened to it three times and was still ready to type HOIST for the reasons you state. Then I continued listening to my recording of Todd McLellan talking about Boston winning the cup — and he also said HOSTING that mug.

At that point I figured there must be another inside-hockey usage and went with what I heard.

So, if anything, NickG, it was thrice, not twice.

May pursue.

David

Dirty

I think hosting refers to what the winning team does with the cup in the off-season.

Huskins still sucks. But he’s playing better than Demers or Braun right now

Sharks 3rd line was huge tonight with that GWG. Patty still missing in action. Like the chemistry Havlat is developing on that 2nd line with Couture now.

Way too many turnovers and not enough pressure in 3rd period for Sharks. Seemed like playing in own zone the whole period.

Stevo

And how did that GWG play go? A shot from the point and Benny was cruising to the crease looking for some loose change.

Nothing fancy, but rather effective.

puckace

SS: What’s the matter? Did you buy a Mystery Puck and got Marleau?

I’m sure he’ll find a way to get some goals against the Red Wings, Canucks, and Blackhawks of the league. Oh wait he already did in the playoffs the last couple of years.

I’ll give you the less than stellar start by Patty so far this year. But it’s a little early to rag so hard.

Teejay

I don’t think the boys played particularly well tonight, but 2 points is 2 oints. Missed passes, not very aggressive, unable to protect a lead. Crankshaft and Boiler are off to horrible starts. Ferrerrio played a real good game.

Long Time No Cup

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Sharks on a back-to-back against two of the better eastern teams came from behind to win in a shootout and held their poise after coughing up a lead and beat the Stanley Cup Champions in their house.

That’s four points in two serious character games. And both the Devils and Bruins showed up, played hard, and threw everything they could at the Sharks and the Sharks won.

Don’t give me any crud about not playing well. They did what the point of the game is: scored more goals than the opposition.

JB

Did anybody else notice what looked like blood on Boyle left arm, just above the glove?

Interesting game, most entertaining really. Any win is a good win. Gotta patch up those leaky third periods though.

ZEKE

@SS — Marleau stole a goal? Really? He did what he’s supposed to do, take the opportunity to seal the game.

Criticize Marleau for not playing well? OK, you can make that case. But criticize him for stealing a goal? You’ve got nothing.

g-bum-man

The Shark’s play tonight did not inspire confidence. A win-yes, but they stole one for sure. Niemi saved the bacon. The passing is killing them!! Actually to be accurate, I should say the LACK of passing is killing them. Bad passing equals turnovers. Bad passing equals failure to come out of the d-zone clean. I sound like a broken record with the criticism of their passing.

The other part of their (Sharks) game that astounded me tonight was the amount of times they simply dumped the puck deep into the Boston zone and skated off on a line change. Over and over! Not even one player pursuing the puck in deep. That is horrible, just horrible, to cede possession to the other team like that. Dump and chase is one thing, but dump and skate off? What the hell? UH–offense please?

I sure prefer complaining about them after they win–rather than after they lose. This team has way too much talent to play this poorly. Can’t wait until they start playing up to their potential. So far, only the first game of the year has looked solid (except the PK).

Sure is edge of the seat stuff though….it is exciting this way.

Dirty

Douglass Murray has to go back to being Douglass Murray. Today he looked like a NHL12 noob defenseman all over the ice, ill-advised pinches, turnovers, going for hit instead of minding his man. I wonder what’s going on with him.

JT had a couple of giveaways in the Sharks own end that luckily were not converted.

Niemi kept the Sharks in the game. He had a couple of beauties today.

Ferrrio was a bit hungry tonight.

Coach was completely livid after the B’s 2nd goal. I think his eyes turned red for a couple of seconds.

Back-to-back road wins, but this wacky schedule sure is gonna make it difficult to maintain momentum. Keep it rolling!

Go Patrick Marleau

I thought Justin Braun had a strong game. His only misstep was when he missed playing the puck at the blue line which led to that 3 on 1. Vlasic had a great game defensively. Dan Boyle and Cranky were struggling tonight.

How about that trade today? Completely one-sided in the Canucks favor. Tallon is just dumping salary for this offseason.

pac northwest

To those who say the Sharks didn’t play well tonight, well, that’s the mark of a good team. Winning while not playing at their best.